Press Releases

IAAPA Adds Fright Factor to This Year’s Orlando Show

ALEXANDRIA, VA. USA (Sep. 3, 2003) – This year's IAAPA Orlando 2003 Annual Convention and Trade Show has added a frightening feature that could place some attendees completely in the dark - the dark zone that is. In an agreement effective August 29, the International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA) has successfully completed negotiations with IAAPA on an alliance that allows 200 IAHA exhibitors to display its products in an unlit area of the show floor for exhibitors requiring darkness for display effects.

In addition to a dedicated dark zone-or more officially - a "Haunt Zone" at this year's show, the agreement includes the sharing of mutually beneficial educational efforts like safety and operations manuals, marketing resources, best-training practices and other amusement park management material as required.

"The addition of IAHA will add a dynamic new dimension to this year's convention that we believe will increase excitement and add interest to what is already a world class collection of amusement products," said Jane Cooper, IAAPA's 2nd Vice Chairperson and chair of the specific committee that makes final decisions on trade show floor space allocation.

Cooper said the integrative trade partnership will boost exhibitor and visitor attendance by providing an entirely new mix of amusement products that attracts a new class of buyers to the show, some of whom will see products and services from more traditional IAAPA exhibitors for the first time.

"With our industry's seasonal length beginning to stretch into October and the traditional Halloween season, this partnership really makes sense for both our membership groups," said Cooper.

The genesis of the partnership began in an exploratory conversation between the associations? senior managers when the 5-year old association opened a smaller exhibit at the IAAPA convention two years ago. IAHA returned last year, but not before stepping up promotion of the IAAPA show among its membership.

"While having a presence and booth at IAAPA last year, IAHA felt a real need to further educate their attendees regarding haunting. Some of the specific topics of interest are designing, building, executing and managing haunts," said Liz Foral, IAHA's current president.

Following the 2002 show, IAHA received 400 sales leads, and increased its membership 25 percent. It wasn't long after that talks designed to expand the relationship began in earnest.

In addition to securing space for the "Haunt Zone," IAHA plans to hold their annual board and business meetings at future IAAPA shows, as well as a full slate of educational seminars.

The "Haunt Zone" will be located in the top left or northwest section of the main show floor.

It is expected that IAHA will bring this year's Annual Convention two to four thousand new attendees and more than one hundred new exhibitors, in addition to a potentially frightful good time.

# # #

IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities worldwide. The organization represents over 4,500 facility, supplier, and individual members from more than 90 countries. IAAPA strives to help members improve their efficiency, marketing, safety, and profitability while maintaining the highest possible professional standards in the industry. www.iaapa.org